Despite a new perimeter announced by the Walloon Government for the Boucle du Hainaut route, the municipality of Celles maintains its opposition and calls for undergrounding possibilities to be concretely examined.
Nearly a hundred citizens gathered on Tuesday, October 20th, at the Concordia to express their concern over the Boucle du Hainaut project. Mayor Michaël Busine reaffirmed the commune's full opposition, emphasizing that the new perimeter announced by the Walloon Government on October 12th does not resolve the issue for Celles.
The new route, which favors a largely aerial solution, has been shifted compared to the October 2020 map. However, some homes remain in close proximity. The mayor stated that while the situation changes for some, new concerns arise for others, and simply moving the problem is not a solution.
The new preferential corridor affects thirty-eight addresses, more than in 2020. Within Celles' territory, a two-kilometer sector presents difficulties in avoiding several homes. Despite the study classifying the interest in undergrounding as low, the municipality requests that this option be concretely examined for the affected residents.
The Government has announced a public inquiry in the first half of 2027, followed by consultation with the communes. Financial compensation is also planned, including voluntary buyouts within 100 meters of the future line and a degressive compensation within 200 meters, as well as measures for farmers and businesses. These announcements do not alter the commune's position, which will continue its analysis and prepare an argued communal opinion, in collaboration with neighboring communes Frasnes-lez-Anvaing and Mont-de-l’Enclus.
“"For some people, the situation changes. For others, a new concern appears. In Celles, moving it is not a sufficient answer. Moving the problem doesn't solve it"
“"Be careful, this does not mean that the consequences for the inhabitants would be minor. Avoiding a residential area on a map does not necessarily solve the problem of the house right next door, or the farm a little further away. These inhabitants deserve the same attention as others. We therefore ask that the undergrounding possibilities in Celles be concretely examined. If there are technical constraints, they should be presented to us and explained what they allow or prevent."
“"These compensations do not solve everything. When we talk about leaving one's home, we also talk about one's habits, neighbors, and the life built there. That is why these announcements do not change our position. For our part, we will continue to analyze the file and prepare an argued communal opinion. We want to work with neighboring communes, particularly Frasnes-lez-Anvaing and Mont-de-l’Enclus, with whom we advocate for undergrounding. I will not promise you anything about the outcome of this file. But I want us to use the means at our disposal to defend our inhabitants."
Based on information from the official source:
Commune de Celles (21/10/2026)
